Textile apparatus



April 9, 1968 J. H. SELBY 3,376,611

TEXT ILE APPARATUS Filed May 17. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J H [K H. 5 E LBY BY m9- .4 7'7'ORNE Y? April 1968 J. H. SELBY 3,376,611

TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VENTOR.

JHEK H. 5 ug y States Patent ()fi 3,376,61 l Patented Apr. 9, 1968 ice 3,376,611 TEXTILE APPARATUS Jack H. Selby, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 17, 1966. Ser. No. 550,707 12 Claims. (Cl. 19-129) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE the rack being guided by a guide means journaled on the shaft. A ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft and cooperably engageable with a releasable pawl is provided for automatically holding the up er section in the open position to which it is moved.

The present invention relates to textile apparatus, and particularly to textile apparatus including a gill box having a lower section, an upper section movable relative to the lower section between closed and open positions, and

an actuating mechanism for moving the upper section between its closed and open positions.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved textile apparatus for handling sliver and having a gill box with an upper section pivotal rela tive to a lower section about an axis which extends transverse to the direction of sliver advancement and incorporating a simple reliable manual drive mechanism effective to pivot the upper section about the axis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved textile apparatus in which an actuating mechanism for pivoting the upper section of the gill box relative to its lower section is so constructed and arranged that the upper section can be moved to an open position by an operator with a minimum amount of eifort and is automatically locked and held in an open position when moved through any angular distance from the lower section.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved textile apparatus in which an actuating mechanism for moving the upper section of a gill box relative to its lower section between open and closed positions includes a rack and pinion drive arrangement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved textile apparatus, as defined in the next preceding object, and in which the pinion is fixed on a rotatably supported shaft which is adapted to be rotated by a hand crank or wheel, and in which the rack is connected at one end with the upper section of the gill box at a location spaced from its pivotal connection with the lower section thereof and slidably received at its other end within a guide member journaled on the shaft and straddling the pinion gear for maintaining the rack in meshed engagement with the pinion while permitting the same to be reciprocated in an arcuate path.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved textile apparatus in which the actuating mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism which allows the actuating mechanism to be rotated in the direction to cause the upper section of the gill box to be moved toward an open position and which is effective to prevent rotation of the actuating mechanism in the opposite direction to lock and hold the upper section in the open position to which it has been moved.

The present invention resides in certain novel construe tions and arrangement of parts, and further objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a textile apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view like that shown in FIG. 2 but showing certain parts thereof in a different position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the textile apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the interrelationship of certain parts of the textile apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of part of the textile apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view like that shown in FIG. 7, but showing the parts in a different position.

The present invention is usable in various types or kinds of apparatuses for pivoting one part relative to another part, but is especially useful in a textile apparatus for moving an upper section of a gill box or the like relative to a lower section between closed and open positions, but is herein shown as being preferably embodied in such a textile apparatus A.

The textile apparatus A, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises, in general, a frame B, a gill box C having a stationary lower section or part 10 and a movable upper section or part 12 pivotally connected to the lower section 10. An actuating or drive mechanism D is operatively connected with the upper section 12 of the gill box C for moving the same relative to the lower section 10 between open and closed positions.

The gill box C is mounted on the upper portion of the frame B and forms a housing containing taller bars (not shown) which operate on sliver advanced through the gill box in a conventional manner. A pair of sliver feed rolls 14, 15 are shown supported at the sliver input end of the gill box C.

The upper section 12 of the gill box C is pivotally connected to its lower section 10 adjacent its input end, i.e. the end adjacent the feed rolls 14- and 15, to enable the upper section to be moved to an open position to provide access to the interior of the gill box C for various well known reasons including cleaning and changing the faller bars. To this end, the stationary lower section 10 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly and upwardly extending ears or lugs 20, 22 on the input end thereof, and the upper section 12 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 24 and 26 on the input end thereof. The arms 24 and 26 are respectively pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the ears and 22 by aligned pivot pins 28 and 30 having a common axis.

The upper section 12 of the gill box C is adapted to be moved or rotated about the common axis of the pivot pins 28 and 30 toward and from the lower section 10 between closed and open positions by the actuating or drive mechanism D. The actuating mechanism D comprises a reciprocably movable actuating member 32 operatively connected with the upper section 12 of the gill box C and a rotatable drive means, designated generally by reference numeral 34, which is adapted to be manually rotated to reciprocate the actuating member 32. The actuating member 32 is here shown as being a rack having one end fixed to a shaft 36 intermediate and preferably at the midpoint between its opposite ends. The shaft 36 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the lower ends of the arms 24 and 26 of the upper section 12 of the gill box C, which ends are spaced from the pivot axes of the pivot pins 28 and 30. The rack 32 is provided with gear teeth 38 along its lower side which are in meshed engagement with a pinion gear 42 of the rotatable drive means 34.

The pinion gear 42 is fixed to a shaft 44 which is rotatably supported at its opposite ends by bearings 45 and 46 carried by a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending support portions 47 and 48 of a support member 49 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the frame B between the feed rolls 14, 15 and the gill box C. The shaft 44 has a square-shaped end portion 50 which projects outwardly or forwardly of the vertically extending support portion 47 of the support member 49, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and to which a suitable crank or handwheel 51 is adapted to be connected for the purpose of rotating the shaft 44.

When the shaft 44 is rotated by the crank 51 in the direction of the arrow 52, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rack 32 is caused to be moved toward the left. Movement of the rack 32 toward the left causes the lower ends of the arms 24 and 26 of the upper section 12 of gill box C to be moved about the axis of the pivot pins 28 and 30 in the direction of the arrow 54 and the upper section 12 of the gill box C to be moved away from the lower section 10 from its closed position toward an open position, as shown in FIG. 3.

To hold and lock the upper section 12 in the open position to which it has been moved and prevent the same from falling or moving to its closed position when the crank for turning the shaft 44 is released, a releasable locking means is provided. The releasable locking means 60 is effective to automatically lock and hold the upper section 12 of the gill box C in the open position to which it has been moved irrespective of the extent to which ithas been moved relative to the lower section 10. The releasable locking means 60 is a ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet pinion or wheel 62 fixed to the shaft 44 adjacent the vertically extending support portion 47 and a pawl 64 pivotally connected at one end by a pivot pin 66 to the vertically extending support portion 47 of the support member 49 for movement about an axis extending parallel to the shaft 44. The pawl 64 at its other end 68 is shaped complementary with and is adapted to be received in the recess space between adjacent teeth 69 on the ratchet pinion 62. The pawl 64 is disposed 'above and to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, of the axis of rotation of the ratchet wheel or pinion 62, and thus, is biased or maintained in engagement with the teeth 69 on the ratchet pinion 62 by gravity.

When the shaft 44 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 52 to move the upper section 12 of the gill box C toward an open position, the ratchet pinion 62 is rotated in the same direction. As the ratchet pinion is rotated in this direction, the respective teeth 69 thereof will cause the pawl 64 to be deflected in an upward direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, until the upper section 12 of the gill box C has been moved to the desired open position at which timethe end 68 of the pawl 64 will be disposed wlthin the recess between the two adjacently located teeth. When the end 68 of the pawl 64 is located between two of the adjacent teeth, the shaft 44 cannot rotate in the opposite direction, as indicated by arrow 70, and the upper section 12 is held and locked in the open position to which it has been moved.

To enable the upper section 12 of the gill box C to be returned to its closed position in which it rests upon or engages the lower section 10, the pawl 64 must be moved upwardly and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, as shown in FIG. 8. When the pawl 64 is is in the position shown in FIG. 8, the upper section 12 due to its weight will move toward its closed position. As the upper section 12 moves toward its closed position, the lower portion of the arms 24 and 26 thereof move in the direction of the arrow 71, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 which in turn causes the rack 32 to be moved toward the right. Movement of the rack toward the right causes the pinion 42, shaft 44, and crank 51 to be rotated in the direction of the arrow 70. The operator by grasping the crank 51 can slowly allow the upper section 12 to be returned. to its closed position.

The ratchet mechanism 60is preferably disposed within a housing or box-like enclosure 74 having an opening 75 at its forward side, as viewed in FIG. 1, through which the shaft 44 projects and which provides access to, the pawl 64 to enable it to be moved to its release position. The housing 74 also prevents the operator from accidently bumping or engaging the pawl 64 so that it cannot be accidently moved to its release position and cause the upper section 12 of the gill box C to drop down onto the lower section 10 and cause possible breakage of the parts.

To maintain the rack 32 in meshed engagement with the pinion gear 42, a guide means for guiding the movement of the rack 32 is provided. The guide means 80 comprises an inverted U-shaped member having its legs 82 and 83 rotatably journaled by bearings 84 and 85 on the shaft 44 and straddling the pinion gear 42.:

The support member 49 is provided with a recess 86 intermediate its sides 47 and 48 in which the guide means 80 is disposed. The rack 32 is disposed between the pinion 42 and the bottom wall 87 of the U-shaped guide member and has its upper side in sliding engagement with the bottom wall 87. The U-shaped guide member is positioned on the shaft 44 between the left side wall 88 of the recess 86 and a collar 90 fixed to the shaft 44 by a set screw 91.

The provision of the U-shaped guide member which is rotatably journaled on the shaft 44 maintains the rack 32 in meshed engagement with the pinion gear 42 and permits the rack 32 to pivot about the axis of the shaft 44 so that when it is reciprocated it can move in an arcu'ate path about the axis of the pivot pins 28, 30.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a novel textile apparatus having an actuating mechanism for moving an upper section of a gill box which is pivotally connected to its lower section thereof between openand closed positions has been provided. Moreover, it can be seen that a novel textile apparatus in which the actuating mechanism includes a rack and pinion drive.

arrangement and a ratchet mechanism for holding 'and locking the upper section in any desired open position has been provided.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the construction shown and that it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and changes therein which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A textile apparatus comprising, a gill box having a lower section and an upper section pivotally connected to the lower section for angular movement relative thereto about an axis, means for pivotally connecting said upper section to said lower section, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected with said upper section for moving the same relative to the lower section about said axis, said actuating mechanism including an actuating member connected with said upper section at a location spaced from said axis and which is movable in opposite directions providing for movement of said upper section toward and from said lower section, a drive means operatively connected with said actuating member, and means effective to automatically lock and hold said upper section in an open position at any angular extent of movement thereof and releasable to permit the upper section to return to its closed position.

2. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 1, and wherein said drive means includes a rotatable shaft and said means for automatically locking and holding the upper section in the open position to which it has been moved comprises a ratchet mechanism operable to prevent rotation of said drive means in a direction providing for movement of said upper section toward said lower section.

3. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 2, and wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel rotatable with said shaft and a pawl which cooperably engages the ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of the shaft in one direction.

4. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim .1, wherein said actuating member is a rack and wherein said actuating means includes a pinion gear in meshed engagement with the rack for moving the latter in opposite directions.

5. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 4, and wherein said pinion gear is fixed to a rotatable shaft having an end portion which is adapted to cooperably receive a manually operable member for rotating the shaft and pinion.

6. A textile apparatus comprising, a gill box having a lower section and an upper section connected to the lower section for movement relatively thereto between closed and open positions, means for connecting said upper section to lower section for movement relative thereto, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected with said upper section for moving the same relative to said lower section between closed and open positions, said actuating mechanism including a toothed rack connected with said upper section and which is moveable in opposite directions to provide for movement of the upper section toward and from the lower section, and a pinion gear in meshed engagement with the teeth on said rack and rotatable for moving the latter, said pinion gear being fixed on a rotatable shaft having an end portion which is adapted to cooperably receive a manually operable member for rotating the shaft.

7. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 6, and including a guide means for guiding the movement of the rack and for maintaining the same in meshed engagement with the pinion.

8. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 7, and wherein said rack is pivotally connected at one end to said upper section and has its opposite end slidably received in said guide means.

9. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 8, and wherein said guide means comprises a generally U-shaped member having its legs rotat'ably journaled on said shaft adjacent the opposite sides of said pinion gear.

10. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 6, and including a releasable locking means which is effective to automatically lock and hold the upper section in the open position to which it is moved and which is releasable to permit the upper section to be returned to its closed position.

11. A textile apparatus, as defined in claim 10, 'and wherein said releasable locking means comprises a ratchet mechanism for permitting rotation of the drive means in one direction and for preventing rotation of the drive means in the other direction, said ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft and a pawl pivotally connected to said support means and biased into engagement with said ratchet wheel.

12. A textile apparatus comprising a gill box through which sliver is advanced in a predetermined direction,

said gill box including an upper section and a lower section, means pivotally supporting said upper section for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction of sliver advancement and relative to said lower section, an upper section moving member, and a manually actuated mechanism operable to move said member in a direction to effect raising movement of said upper section about said axis transverse to the direction of sliver advancement, said actuated mechanism including a toothed rack connected with said upper section and which is movable in opposite directions to provide for movement of the upper section toward and from the lower section, and a pinion gear in meshed engagement with the teeth on said rack and rotatable for moving the latter, said pinion gear being fixed on a rotatable shaft having an end portion which is adapted to cooperably receive a manually operable member for rotating the shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,833 5/1924 Grivel 19'129 3,007,210 11/ 1961 Lattion 74422 3,161,072 12/ 1964 LeTourneau 74422 FOREIGN PATENTS 980,438 12/1950 France.

24,035 12/1895 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, Assistant Examiner. 

